Aristedes Metallinos 1907-1987

Σφηρή και σκαρπέλο

Some remnant DNA prompted Arestides Ἀριστείδης Metallinos in the last decade of his life in Ano Korakiana to put aside his cobbler’s last, to obtain marble and Corfu stone, in order to 'bear witness, with hammer and chisel, to human nature and its weaknesses'.

«Για όλα ‘αυτά αποφάσησα και πήρα διάφορα μάρμαρα και πέτρες Σφηρή και σκαρπέλο να παρισιάσο πάνο στα μάρμαρα τον άνδροπο και τα ελατόματάτου» (απόσπασμα από χειρόγραφο του καλλιτέχνη)

And so, between 1977 and 1987, Metallinos created, unknown to the world, over 200 works. Locked in a closed 'museum' on Democracy Street, the old artist, below a Pygmalion, has left our village a puzzling and baneful bequest...

Stop troubling your old body. Your friends, relatives and fellow villagers will torment you towards the end of your life. They demolished your house which you kept like a museum of divine work to adorn the village. The time will come for their great crime to manifest itself, to burden them, and their children for ever. (Tr: Aleko Damaskinos)

I have much yet to learn about this amazing artist. How I wish he could come home to his village.